Taping machine



F. J. HAS

TAPING MACHINE Jan. W, 1950 6 shetsheet 1 Filed June 5, 1947 w 2 m Mw, J MH n c WJ fm /J M w WH n Y B m W/ @fj m d Fm M m m 2 m m m.

F. J. HAAS TAPING MACHINE Jan. l?, 1950 Filed June 3, 1,947

F. J. HAAS TAPING MACHINE Jan.. 17, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June I5, 3.947

INVENTOR. Frank J Haas F. J. HAAs 495,003

TAPING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Jam W, i950 Filed June 3, 1947 F. J. HS

TAPING MACHINE Jam, W, E9@

6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 3, 1947 f ms r NQ SN Ws Y @QM WJ fm k an m Jam.. l?, E95@ F. J. HAAS TAPING MACHNE Filed June 5, 1947 6 She www ets-Sheet 6 ATTofF/vfrs.

Wl y @8 111W 3111? 27 w X JNVENTOR. wm IH H Vi Fran/f J Haas mi* f?" W BY WWW/@MQW Patented Jan. 17, 1950 TAPING MACHINE Frank J. Haas, Bayside, N. Y., assigner to Richard Goetz, doing Business as Boxart Machine Company, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application June 3, 1947, Serial No. 752,107

'z claims. l

The present invention relates to a taping machine and more particularly to such a machine for taping together adjacent separated edges of iinished blanks for paper or similar boxes.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by practice with the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

- O-f the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the most important elements of the taping machine rof the invention;

invention;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the blank as shown in Fig. 3 with the tape as applied by the taping machine of the invention;

Fig. 5 is a view partly in cross section and partly in plan of a typical an-d illustrative embodiment of the present invention, taken along line 5-5 0f Fig. 7;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6 6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the taping machine of the invention certain parts being broken away for greater clarity and certain hidden parts being indicated in broken lines;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along line 8-8 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along line 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line I0-I0 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line |I-II of Fig. 10; and

Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along line I2-I2 of Fig. 11. The present invention has for an object the provision of an improved machine for automati- Icl. :a3-5s) cally applying a piece of tape to a desired locality on a fiat object, and is particularly adapted to the taping of the adjacent free edges of a folded box blank of paper or similar material, said taping being the final step in the production of a folded paper box. The machine of the present invention is simple and certain in its operation and its construction is economical and uncomplicated. Still another object of the invention is the provision of a box taping machine of the characteristics mentioned Y having simplified automatic means for `feeding and positioning the tape at the place and time desired and -for severing the tape from the source of supply, and means are further provided for eficently varying the automatic operation of the machine to accommodate box blanks of varying sizes and types.

Referring now in detail tothe illustrative embodiment of the invention shown by Way of eX- ample in the accompanying drawings, the taping machine is diagrammatically shown in Fig. l and Figs. 2, 3 and 4 illustrate a box blank upon which the device is adapted to operate. As shown in Fig. V2, a box blank I 5 of paper board or other suitable vmaterial is-provided in rectangular form having free edges or ends I6, longitudinal score lines I1 land I8, and transverse partly scored and partly ,slit lines I9, 20 and 2l. In finishing the box the blank I5 is folded along lines I9 and 2| forming a double thickness of material in the form shown in Fig. 3. The free ends or edges I6 of the folded blank are thus brought together as shown, and as a iinal step'in the formation of the folded box it is desired to apply a length of adhesive tape 22 (Fig. 4) joining the central portions of the adjacent'blank edges I6.

' Referring now to the illustration of the taping machineshown in Fig. 1, there is provided a bed or table 23. across which the blank I5 (folded as shown in Fig. 3) is adapted to be pushed by hand with one of its longitudinal edges as the leading edg'e. The leading edge of the blank I5 is caught between the 'upper and lower belts 24 and 25 respectively running over their A driven rollers 26 and 2l -andthe blank is thereafter pulled through the machine and the tape piece 22 applied. Y AsV shown, a pivoted switch arm 28 is raised by ,the passageof blank l5 beneath it soon after it is introduced onto the table 23, the switch 29 is thereby closed, and solenoid 30 is energized .through suitable wiring 3| whichconnects the switch, solenoid and a suitable power source in series. The solenoid 30 when energized pulls downwardly upon a cable 32 leading over a pulley 733 to apivoted knife blade 34 which is downwardly biased by a spring 35, and is adapted to cooperate with a stationary blade 36 in cutting the tape after a taping operation.

The tape feeding means include a contact member or finger 31 mounted for longitudinal adjustment upon an arm 38 which is mounted for forward motion (in the line of travel of the box blank) against the pull of a spring 39. A rack gear 40 is provided at the upper surface of arm 38 at the rearward end thereof to mesh with a gear 4| on shaft 42 which also carries a dou-ble ratchet tape feed wheel 43. The feed wheel 43 1c chain drive connection with a gear 60 at one cooperates with an idler 44 to feed the tape 45 downwardly and forwardly to the box blank. It will thus be seen that the linger 31 may be set where desired upon arm 38 to engage the forwardly moving leading edge of the blank |5, preferably after it has been caught between the belts 24 and 25 and is being advanced thereby. Further advance of the blank carries in the same direction the finger 31 and arm 38, rotating gear 4I and feed Wheel 43 to feed tape 45 between knife blades 34 and 36 (the former being at that time raised as already described) to the top surface of the blank and between the advancing belts. Further advance of the blank carries the tape between the belts 24 and 25, and further feeding of the tape takes place with the blank. After the tape is suitably caught between the advancing belts, the finger 31 is arranged to be lifted above the leading edge of the blank and returned to its original position to await the introduction of the next blank. This movement is effected by the pin 46 fixed to arm 38 and traveling in a stationary cam member 41, having an upwardly turned path at its forward end to raise arm 38 and finger 31, so that they may be retracted to original position by spring 39.

The placement of switch arm 28 is such that it will ride off of the trailing edge of the blank I when the desired length of tape 22 has been applied to the central portion of the box, and upon so doing the solenoid 30 is deenergized to allow knife 34 to fall by action of spring 35.

The tape is thus severed, further tape feed is terminated, and the machine is in condition for introduction of the next box blank as the former blank is withdrawn between the belts 24 and 25.

Referring now to the detailed construction of the taping machine as illustratively shown in the drawings, a frame-work is provided comprising side panels 50 upon which the top or table 23 is supported, front panels 5| and curved panels 52 extending forwardly from the central portion of the machine between the mechanism for the belts 24 and 25 which advance the box blank through the machine. Rectangular, boxlike portions 53 and 54 extend upwardly from side panels 58 at either side of table 23, and between these portions extends a beam 55 which serves as a main support for the taping mechanism and its related parts.

Adjustable guide members 56 and 51 are pro- -1 vided on table 23 to direct the introduction and progress of a blank through the machine, and as shown in Figs. 5 and 6 the members are adjustable and are spaced and positioned for a blank such as that shown in Fig. 3. The switch 29 with its arm 28 to be raised by a box blank introduced into the machine is conveniently mounted upon the vertical reach of guide member 51 and tightened in place by a wing nut 58. The switch and arm may thus be lpositioned as desired across the machine, so that the arm will ride off of the trailing edge of the box blank at the time when it is desired for the tape to be cut, and convenient adjustment may be made for different size blanks and lengths of tape to be applied.

Driving means for the rollers 26 and 21 carrying `belts 24 and 25 respectively comprise a motor and gearing unit indicated generally by the numeral 59 (Fig. 7) mountedon one of the front panels 5| beneath table 23, said unit having a end of a shaft 6|, which extends the full width of the machine beneath the table 23 and is mounted in suitable journals on the side panels 50. The

lower belt roller 21 is keyed to said shaft centrally of its length and driven thereby.

A gear 82 at the other end of shaft 8| meshes with a gear 63 on a counter shaft 64, which extends above table 23 across a portion of the width of the machine and has keyed thereto the upper belt roller 26. Shaft 64 is mounted in a suitable journal provided on one of the side panels 5U within rectangular portion 54, and at its other end in a journal 65 (Fig. 5) which ls a part of a casting indicated generally by the numeral 66 and which is mounted on beam 55 to carry the taping mechanism and related parts.

The belt advancing means for the blanks are best shown in Figs. 8 and 9 of the drawings. Referring first to the mechanism for the lower belt 25, a rectangular tube or beam member 61 is provided having fixed at one end a hanger 68 which surrounds shaft 6| and is supported thereby. A plurality of idler rollers 69 are rotatably mounted Within beam member 61, spaced along the length thereof, and are positioned so that their peripheries may extend through suitable apertures in the upper surface of the beam member to support the upper reach of belt 25. Another idler roller 18 is mounted at the forward end of beam member 61 on hangers 1| which are adjustably secured to the beam member by bolts 12 extending into slots 13 of the hangers. Adjusting screws 14 are provided on the beam member so that the rollers 10 may be positioned as desired to tension the lower belt 25. As best shown in Fig. 9, the forward end of the lower belt mechanism is supported on inwardly turned upper edges 15 of the curved panel members 52, which contact the brackets 14 for screws 14'.

The mechanism for the upper belt 24 is similar to that just described for the lower belt member, comprising a beam member 18 pivotally mounted by means of a hanger 19 at one end upon the upper driving shaft 64, and carrying at its other end an adjustable hangar upon which is supported idler roller 8|. A plurality of other idler rollers 82 are mounted within the beam member 18 to contact the lower reach of belt 24 through suitable apertures in the beam, and these rollers are mounted upon pivoted arms 83 which are spring pressed downwardly by means of coiled springs 84.

The upper belt mechanism is thus mounted to rest upon the lower belt throughout a major por'- tion of its length, the belts being somewhat spaced at their rearmost portions by the fixed spacing of shafts 6| and 64 Where the leading edge of box blanks first engages the belts. It will be apparent that the driven belt supporting mechanisms are relatively massive, so that the pivoted upper mechanism bearing with some conF siderable force toward the lower mechanism serves the dual purpose of firmly engaging and `advancing the box blank, and pressing and affixing the tape which has just been applied to the' blank.

Referring now to the tape holding and applying means herein illustratively shown, an upwardly extending portion of casting 66 carries the rotatably mounted adhesive tape supply reel 86, and the tape therefrom is directed downwardly through any suitable and conventional tensioning mechanism 81, over a guide roller 88 and then over the periphery of a fountain roller 89 which rotates in a moistening fountain 99 formed as a separate member and mounted on the beam 55. The fountain may, if desired, be provided with immersion heating means 9| (Fig. 5) to heat the moistening fluid in fountain 99 and insure adherence of the tape to the box blank.

The moistened adhesive bearing tape is thereafter directed across a plate member 92 pivotally mounted on fountain 99 and between fixed guides 93, and from there between knurled feed roller 43 and idler 44, the latter of which is mounted on an arm 94 which is integral with plate 92 and pivots therewith. A spring 95 is adapted to urge idler 44 against the tape 45 on roller 43 to properly feed the tape.

The knife portion 36, as hereinbefore described, is stationarily held to a forwardly extending portion of casting 66, and a guide bar 96 is arranged over it to retain the tape in position. The movable knife blade 34 is pivoted at 91 on the fixed blade 36, and the coiled spring 35 (Figs. 8 and 11) urges the knife downwardly. The cable 32 leads over pulley 33 which is rotatably mounted on casting 66 and is connected to the armature 98 of solenoid 39 which is also mounted on casting 66. A yoke member 99 on the solenoid is adapted to engage pin |99 on the armature in order to limit the movement of cable 32 in the deenergized condition of the solenoid.

The means for initially feeding the tape to the box blank is shown in detail in Figs. to 12 inclusive of the drawings, and includes the arm 38 seated in a channel member |9| aflixed to casting 66 and having the cam member 41 as an integral part thereof. The arm is biased backwardly (with reference to the direction of box blank travel through the machine) by spring 39 (Fig. 10), and is slotted at its forward end to receive the shank |92 carrying finger 31, which may be fixed in a desired position longitudinally of the arm 38 by means of wing nut |93. A side surface of arm 38 is preferably marked as indicated at |94 providing a scale for the adjustment of finger 31 on arm 38.

The rack member 49 is affixed to arm 38 at its rearmost portion, meshing with gear 4|, the shaft 42 of which is suitably journaled in a portion of casting 66. As shown in detail in Figs. 11 and 12, the tape feed wheel 43 is preferably of a double ratchet construction, having a portion |95 secured to shaft 42 for rotation therewith carrying spring pressed pawls |96 for engagement with the internal teeth of a peripheral tape engaging knurled portion |91 of the wheel. Other similarly arranged pawls |98 are held with respect to the stationary journal |99 of shaft 42 and also engage the internal teeth of peripheral portion |91. With the arrangement described it will be apparent that the tape 45 will be advanced by peripheral portion |91 when driven by pawls |96 through shaft 42 rotated by arm 38 following the leading edge of an advancing box blank. Reverse rotation of peripheral portion |91 is pre- Vented at all times by pawls |98. The cam portion 41 is arranged to lift finger 31 away from the box blank and allow return of arm 38 as soon as the leading edge of the tape is well caught on the box blank between rollers 26 and 21. This is accomplished by pin 46 secured in arm 38 and riding in the slot in cam portion 41 whereby when the pin 46 advances up the inclined portion of the cam slot arm 38 and finger 31 are tilted upwardly.

In the construction herein shown the parts are so proportioned that the feed of the tape takes place at the same rate as the box blank advance, but it will be apparent that the elements may beso proportioned and adjusted as to feed the tape by means of wheel 43 before it is caught in the advancing belts either faster or slower than the box blank advance.

With the construction for a taping machine which has been shown and described it will be apparent that simple, efficient and automatic means have been provided for applying the tape where desired upon a box blank, starting feed of the tape and cutting the tape where necessary to apply it on the particular blank being processed, and including means for firmly afflxing the tape before it finally leaves the machine. Any suitable box blank holding means may if desired be cornbined with the machine of the present invention to support a stack of blanks to be fed through the machine, arms ||9 being shown in Figs. 5 and '14 for that purpose which may be provided with hydraulic or other lifting means to raise the stack of blanks.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific mechanisms shown and described but departures may be made therefrom, within the scope of the accompanying claims, without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages. j

What I claim is:

1. In a taping machine for box blanks or similar articles wherein a blank is moved through the machine receiving a length of tape on a surface thereof, in combination, means to be engaged by the blank as it is moved through the machine and advanced in the direction of travel of the blank, means for advancing a length of tape toward the surface to be taped, driving means interconnecting said first means and said second means, means for disengaging said iirstmeans from the blank upon a predetermined travel of said first means with the blank, knife means forcutting the tape, and means including a solenoid, and a switch therefor having a feeler element in the pathof travel of the blank for actuating the knife means to cut the tape responsive to the travel of the blank through the machine.

2. In a taping machine for box blanks or similar articles wherein a blank is moved through the machine receiving a length of tape on a surface thereof, in combination, means to be engaged by the leading edge of the blank as it is moved through the machine and advanced in the direction of travel of the blank, means to be driven for advancing a length of tape toward the surface to be taped, means driving said second means and driven by said first means upon movement with the blank, means for disengaging said first means from the leading edge of the blank upon a predetermined travel of said iirst means with the blank, spring biased knife means for cutting the tape, and means including a solenoid and a switch therefor having a feeler element in the path of travel of the blank for actuating the knife means to cut the tape responsive to the travel of the trailing edge of the blank through the machine."

3. A taping machine comprising, in combination, driven means for engaging and advancing a member to be taped, tape engaging means to engage a length of tape to be driven to advance the tape toward said member, a member engaging element to be engaged by the leading edge of said member as it is advanced by said driven means, one way driving means interconnecting said element and said tape eng-aging means driving the latter to advance the tape upon movement of the former with the advance of said member, means for disengaging said element from the leading edge of said member after a predetermined advance of said member by said driven means, knife means for cutting the tape, a solenoid for actuating said knife means, and a switch for said solenoid having a feeler element in the path of travel of the blank.

4. A taping machine comprising, in combination, driven means for engaging and advancing a member to be taped, tape engaging means to engage a length of tape to be driven to advance the tape toward said member, a member engaging element to be engaged by the leading edge of said member as it is advanced by said driven means, one way driving means interconnecting saidrelement and said tape engaging means driving the latter to advance the tape upon movement of the former with the advance of said member, means for disengaging said element from the leading edge of said member after a predetermined advance of said member by said driven means, a knife to cut the tape, and means for actuating the knife to cut the tape responsive to movement of the trailing edge of said member said last means including Ia solenoid to actuate the knife, a switch for said solenoid, and a feeler element connected to said switch to be engaged by said member, and means for adjusting said member engaging element and feeler element in the path of travel of said member when advanced by said driving means.

5. A taping machine comprising, in combination, driven means for engaging and advancing a niember to be taped, tape engaging means to engage a length of tape to be driven to advance the tape toward said member, a member engaging element to be engaged by the leading edge of' said member as it is advanced by said driven means,

edge of said member after a predetermined ad` vance of said member by said driven means, a pivotally mounted knife, spring means biasing the knife to cut the tape, a solenoid to move said knife `against the compression of said spring when' energized, and a switch for said solenoid having anarm'lifted by said member to energize the solenoid.

6. A taping machine comprising, in combination, driven means for engaging and advancing a member to be taped, tape engaging means to engage a length of tape and driven to advance the tape toward said member, means for drivingly engaging said tape engaging means for a predetermined period of time during the advance of the member to be taped by said driven means and including a feeler element positioned in the path' of travel of the member to be taped and engageable with an edge of the advancing member, a knife for cutting said tape, and means for actuating said knife including a solenoid, a switch for said solenoid, and a second feeler element con-l nected to said switch and positioned in the path of travel of said member to be taped to be contacted by said member to actuate said solenoid, said feeler elements being independently actuated by the advancing member whereby the advance of the tape and the cutting of the tape are separately controlled.

7. A taping machine comprising, in combination, driven means for engaging and advancing a member to be taped, tape engaging means to engage a length of tape and driven to advance the tape toward said member, means for drivingly engaging said tape engaging means with said tape during the advance of the member by said driven means including a feeler element positioned in the path of travel of the member to be taped and engageable with an edge of the advancing member, a knife for cutting said tape normally biased in one direction, and means for actu-ating said knife in the opposite direction, said means including a solenoid for actuating said knife, a

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS they 

